Dostoevsky and the Imagination

[Ivan]

I was wondering if we could start gathering instances in which Dostoevsky valorizes the imagination?  
I think this is his closest tie to Nietzsche but I'm short on examples...

Off the top of my head I can think of one example from Notes From Underground:
“Two times two is four has a cocky look; it stands across your path, arms akimbo, and spits. I agree that two times two is four is an excellent thing; but if we're going to start praising everything, then two times two is five is sometimes also a most charming little thing."

[Golyadkin]

While I don't have any real things to say to benefit this discussion, I would like to say that that is a nice quote. I've never heard it before.

[Alyosha]

I love Nietsche, but he isn't perfect. Really, he tried to build an impossible theory. Dostoevsky suffered so much that he realized the failures of 19th century western thought.

The only truth comes in understanding the limitations of mankind. Nietsche was trying for an opposite of this, hence he failed to understand Dostoevsky.

[Ivan]

-I agree that nobody is perfect but I don't see how that makes Nietzsche's theories impossible...

-Dostoevsky did realize the failure of 19C Western thought, but so did Nietzsche!

-Lastly, I guess we would have to aruge over what "the limitations of makind" are but I think that Nietzsche does this just as much as Dostoevsky did.
The Ubermensch isn't someone who goes beyond the limitations of mankind, he is someone who realizes the totality of his limitations, and embraces them.

I knew I shouldn't have brought Nietzsche up on this topic  ... anyways, back to the Dostoevsky and the Imagination!

[earth]

-Dostoevsky did realize the failure of 19C Western thought, but so did Nietzsche!

I don't believe it was a realization of the failure of 19C Western thought, I more think it was a realization that 19C Western thought was, as is, not being utilized in the proper manner.

You can make many valid arguements to the difference of freedoms from 19C Russia and 19C England.

I think Dostoevsky realized that the world was heading to a capitalist society.  A society that no longer valued the human soul and spirit but rather the dollar.

When I read Dostoevsky I look at a visionary much as I would Ghandi, Che Guevera or Noam Chomsky.  People that realize that freedom is for all and as long as a class structure is in place there will be no freedom.

[Ivan]

I don't believe it was a realization of the failure of 19C Western thought, I more think it was a realization that 19C Western thought was, as is, not being utilized in the proper manner.

Ah!  Golden words! how did these pass me by?

I think Dostoevsky realized that the world was heading to a capitalist society.  A society that no longer valued the human soul and spirit but rather the dollar.

Have you seen the movie "A Window to Paris?"  It is a Russian film so it's pretty hard to find... but if you can find I would definitely recommend it!